News – Page 5 – The Gatton Academy News

An Atypical English Class: Part 1

July 20, 2013 | News, Student Life, Students, Summer | No Comments

[fblike] By Corbin Allender

Ahhh, England! I would have flown there myself in my dad’s car a week ago (if only he worked for the Ministry of Magic). But the wait is over; the day has finally arrived and with it I find that all of my pre-travel stresses have gone away. No more worrying if I have enough toothpaste to last or if I’m going to be detained and arrested by customs for packing some, unknowingly illegal, odd or end. All that remains now is an unconquerable excitement for 3 weeks of amazing sightseeing and English exploration!

My group will be departing the Louisville airport around 4:00 p.m. and landing in Charlotte for a much-anticipated reunion with some of our closest friends/fellow Gatton-eers. Then from there it’s overnight flight to London Heathrow Airport and a bus ride to the beautiful Harlaxton manor! Despite its opulence, don’t be fooled into thinking we will enjoy several weeks of relaxation and luxury. Class starts immediately the next day and from that point forward its go, go, go! We’ll discuss works by the likes of Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Roald Dahl, William Shakespeare, and J.K. Rowling followed by trips to the very sites where these materials were written or based. It’s only fitting that such an atypical high school should have an atypical English class as well!

The excitement present in every student is undeniable. I can already tell this summer is going to be one crazy experience so check back each week for all of our updates! Until then, Go Tops and to my fellow Americans: Cheers!

By Gatton Academy

Gretchen Walch receives recognition at Howard Hughes Medical Institute Symposium

June 18, 2013 | Research, Students, Summer | No Comments

Gretchen Walch, a rising Gatton Academy senior from Alexandria, represented the 2012-13 WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration class at the 5th Annual SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance – Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Walch received an honorable mention for her presentation entitled “Isolation, Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Mycobacteriophages Achebe, MooMoo, Simpliphy and Updawg.”

The meeting took place June 7-9, 2013 at the Janelia Farm Research campus in Ashburn, VA. At this year’s symposium, there were over 75 undergraduate poster presentations.

Dr. Rodney King and Dr. Claire Rinehart, Professors in WKU’s Department of Biology, have co-mentored Walch over the past year and attended the symposium with her.

“Gretchen was chosen to represent the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration class because she demonstrated enthusiasm, maturity, perseverance and genuine curiosity,” Dr. King said. “She spent many extra hours in the lab learning as much as she could about her phage and ensuring her lab notebook was complete and up-to-date. Gretchen also embraced the collaborative nature of the scientific process and willingly helped her classmates with laboratory protocols.”

The WKU Biology Department has participated in the SEA-PHAGES program since the fall of 2009. The Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at WKU is designed to engage freshman students in meaningful and authentic research that produces publishable results.

Course participants isolate and sequence novel viruses from the soil, contribute the genomic sequences to a public database and address scientific questions of viral diversity and evolution.

Walch came away from the SEA-PHAGES symposium with a renewed interest in continuing research.

Speaking after the conference, she said, “The SEA-PHAGES Symposium was inspiring. The environment and guest speakers expanded my imagination in research. Every part of the program from the presentations and poster sessions to the meals and coffee breaks fostered the wonderful concept of scientific dialog. My mind has been racing with excitement since I heard the first talk.”

A number of additional Gatton Academy students contributed to the work presented on Walch’s poster. Gatton students who are co-authors on the presentation include: Corbin M. Allender, Grace E. Babbs, Barry C. Blair, Carolyn M. Clark, Joseph E. Crafton, Ajit R. Deshpande, Samantha M. Dinga, Hannah N. Graff, Alex W. Kearns, Azlin L. Lewis, Mary-Grace E. Luscher, Patrick G. Osterhaus, Lindsey R. Porter, Lindsey M. Shain, Domnique C. Thayer, Vishnuteja Tirumala, and Connor M. VanMeter.

For more information about WKU’s SEA-PHAGES research class, contact Dr. Rodney King at rodney.king@wku.edu or Dr. Claire Rinehart at claire.rinehart@wku.edu.

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Students Begin Vast Summer Experiences

June 3, 2013 | Research, Student Life | No Comments

Students from the Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky are prepared for a busy summer. From research internships to shadowing professionals in their home communities, recent graduates and rising high school seniors from the school are following their passions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) this summer.
Additionally, 35 Gatton Academy students will travel internationally for language acquisition, culture study, and credit-based study abroad. Students will be in China, England, and Jordan.
The Gatton Academy’s summer research and internship program has become a perennial staple within the school’s culture. This year 71 students are involved in some form of summer learning.
Students’ experiences are listed below.

Gatton Research Internship Grant recipients:
Now in its fourth year, the Gatton Research Internship Grant program provides support funding for rising seniors to conduct summer research. Twenty students were chosen for summer 2013:
• Corbin Allender (’14) of Bardstown is researching with Dr. Keith Davis and others at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville. Allender will be studying protein changes that occur when lung cancer and melanoma cells are exposed to the anticancer peptide, lunasin.
• Tucker Baker (’14) of Lawrenceburg is continuing research with Dr. Aaron Celestian in the WKU Department of Geography and Geology. The study focuses on nanoporous Earth and engineered materials, with application potentials in energy and petroleum sciences, radioactive waste sepulcration and environmental sciences.
• Aaron Brzowski (’14) of Owensboro is continuing research with Dr. Keith Andrew in the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy. Brzowski is researching in the field of abstract cosmology, studying the Alcubierre Warp Drive and its possible future use in space exploration.
• Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow is continuing her research with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy of the WKU Department of Chemistry this summer. Buckley’s work is in developing an efficient purification method for human fibroblast growth factor.
• Fenil Chavda (’14) of Hopkinsville will continue his research work with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy in the WKU Department of Chemistry. His project is on the development of a reliable, clean, and eco-friendly chemical process for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles.
• Nathaniel Clause (’14) of Murray is continuing research work with Dr. Richard Schugart of WKU’s Department of Mathematics. Clause is involved in mathematically modeling wound healing.
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport is continuing research with Dr. Lan Nguyen of WKU’s Department of Mathematics. Cliburn’s study seeks to study a new approach to solve ordinary differential equations, when they appear in bigger spaces such as Banach spaces, and to apply the results to partial differential equations that come from physics, biology, or mechanics.
• Ajit Deshpande (’14) of LaGrange is researching with Dr. Shivendra Sahi of the WKU Department of Biology. He is studying the synthesis of nanoparticles from plant extract.
• Samantha Dinga (’14) of LaGrange is on a research internship at the University of Louisville’s Infant Cognition under the mentorship of Dr. Cara Cashon. Dinga will be studying how adults disengage from faces in a study that may ultimately contribute to knowledge on autism or Williams syndrome.
• Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green is studying under the mentorship of Dr. James Gary in the WKU Department of Computer Science. Gill’s project involves the development of an application for mobile devices that will help users interact and display three-dimensional objects.
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria is researching at Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory in Newport under the direction of Dr. Heather Christensen. Graff will be working on a project that involves the growth of human breast cancer cells in vitro.
• Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville is continuing research with Dr. Matthew Nee in the WKU Department of Chemistry. Kresse’s project involves the development of a reactor in which to study photocatalytic degradation experiments using Raman spectrometry.
• Nitin Krishna (’14) of Corbin is continuing research with Dr. Richard Schugart in the WKU Department of Mathematics. His work involves formulating a mathematical model describing interactions of cells and proteins in a wound.
• Suhaib Mahmood (’14) of Crestwood is continuing research with Dr. Kevin Williams in the WKU Department of Chemistry. His study focuses on a platinum (II) compound that has potential uses with anticancer drugs.
• Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron is conducting a research project with Dr. Christopher Groves at WKU’s Hoffman Environmental Research Institute. His project involves developing a year-long hydrologic budget for Crump’s Cave in northern Warren County.
• Hannah Rodgers (’14) of Verona is continuing her research with Dr. Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy of WKU’s Department of Chemistry. Her research focuses on the development of reliable, clean, and eco-friendly synthesis of antibiotic capped gold nanoparticles that could provide an environmentally-friendly way to introduce drugs into biological systems.
• Vishnu Tirumala (’14) of Corbin is researching under the guidance of Dr. Guo-Min Li at the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center. His study focuses on how post-translational modifications of DNA mismatch repair proteins impact genome integrity and cancer development.
• Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington is continuing research under Dr. Rodney King’s mentorship in the WKU Department of Biology. His research is centered on cloning and analyzing newly discovered antiterminator RNA candidates.
• Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria is conducting research with Dr. Clare Bates Congdon at the University of Southern Maine’s Department of Computer Science. Her focus is on gene research that could be a possible prevention of arsenic induced health problems.
• Kevin Ziegler (’14) of Bowling Green is continuing research with Dr. Jarrett Johnson of WKU’s Department of Biology. His summer study will evaluate the prevalence of a novel amphibian pathogen in local populations of pond-breeding amphibians.

NCSSSMST Student Research Conference:
Six Gatton Academy students are presenting research this summer at the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Math, Science, and Technology (NCSSSMST) Student Research Conference at Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA. From June 9-12, these students will join approximately 100 other students from across the country to share their research work through oral and poster presentations. Gatton Academy representatives and their presentation titles are:
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport will give a presentation titled “Exponential Functions on Bigger Spaces”
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria will present “Discovery and Analysis of Mycobacteriophage CapnHook”
• Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville will present “An Analysis of Raman Spectroscopy on Photocatalytic Reactions”
• Lindsey Porter (’14) of Hillsboro will present “The Isolation and Characterization of Mycobacteriophage Pigpen”
• D.J. Richardson (’14) of Winchester will present a research poster titled “Reaction Coordinate Calculations for Simple Chemical Reaction”
• Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington will present “MyOTP, a Newly Discovered Mycobacteriophage from Bowling Green, Kentucky”

Experiences Abroad:
National Security Language Initiative-for Youth (NSLI-Y):
Grace Babbs (’14) of Paducah has received an NSLI-Y scholarship for six weeks of intensive Arabic study in Amman, Jordan. The scholarship covers all program costs, travel to Jordan, tuition, housing with a host family, activities, and more. These merit-based scholarships are for high school students studying less commonly taught languages.

Confucius Institute’s Bridge to China Summer Program 2013
For two weeks in July, three students will travel to China visiting cultural sites and participating in language courses and learning traditional activities.
Sarah Angelle (’14) of Monticello
Linda Cruz (’13) of Carrollton
Leslie Wilson (’13) of Munfordville

England
Now in its third year, the Gatton Academy is once again partnering with Harlaxton College in Grantham, England to offer a study abroad course. The following students will study Honors: Introduction to Literature with Professor Walker Rutledge of the WKU Department of English. Students will study literature ranging from Roald Dahl in Great Missenden, the Brontës on the moors near Haworth, and Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon, just to name a few of many stops:

Corbin Allender (’14) of Bardstown
Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow
Fenil Chavda (’14) of Hopkinsville
Carolyn Clark (’14) of Lexington
Nathaniel Clause (’14) of Murray
John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport
Joseph Crafton (’14) of Spottsville
Elizabeth Dade (’14) of Hopkinsville
Ajit Deshpande (’14) of LaGrange
Samantha Dinga (’14) of LaGrange
Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green
Blake Hardison (’14) of Sebree
Kassandra Harris (’14) of Cadiz
Harry Heyworth (’14) of Prospect
Marcus Hughes (’14) of Marion
Alex Kearns (’14) of Sanders
Naomi Kellogg (’14) of Elizabethtown
Benjamin Koehler (’14) of Union
Isaac Kresse (’14) of Louisville
Mary-Grace Luscher (’14) of Stanford
Logan Mitchell (’14) of Hebron
Shania Polson (’14) of Bowling Green
Lindsey Porter (’14) of Hillsboro
D.J. Richardson (’14) of Winchester
Hannah Rodgers (’14) of Verona
Lindsey Shain (’14) of Cox’s Creek
Mariah Tiller (’14) of Hazard
Vishnu Tirumala (’14) of Corbin
Connor VanMeter (’14) of Lexington
Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria
Hannah Weber (’14) of Alexandria

Other Notable Individual Summer Experiences:

• Cecily Allen (’13) of Danville will work at the Commonwealth Cancer Center.
• John Biechele-Speziale (’13) of Grayson will continue research work with Dr. Eric Conte in the WKU Department of Chemistry.
• Leah Cannady (’13) of Brandenburg is working at the Meade Activity Center Summer Camp.
• Miranda Cruse (’13) of Independence has accepted a psychology internship position through the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital High School Senior Summer Internship Program to work under Dr. Elana Harris.
• Eileen Doan (’13) of Paducah is volunteering at the Sunburst Shakespeare Summer Day Camp at the Public Theatre of Kentucky in Bowling Green.
• Meredith Doughty (’13) of Bowling Green is traveling with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls Kentucky.
• Elizabeth Gatten (’13) of Sturgis is shadowing University of Louisville geriatrician Dr. Christian Furman.
• Ryan Gott (’13) of Bowling Green is volunteering with the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association’s Y-Corps Service to the South trip. Additionally, he will work as a counselor at the All Saints Summer Camp in Leitchfield.
• Ellen Green (’13) of Henderson will work as a counselor at the All Saints Summer Camp in Leitchfield.
• Adrian Gregory (’13) of Taylorsville recently presented a research poster titled Increasing pre-service teachers’ self-regulation of learning: An intervention study at the 6th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Motivation in Washington, DC.
• Meghan Hall (’13) of Hustonville is continuing research work with Dr. Michael Collyer of the WKU Department of Biology.
• Erica Johnson (’13) of Louisville is working at Camp Invention at Shepherdsville Elementary.
• William Johnson (’13) of Elkton has been selected for a National Conservation Crew with the Student Conservation Association and will volunteer at Isle Royale National Park on the USA/Canada border. Additionally, Johnson is continuing research with Dr. Joel Lenoir in the WKU Department of Engineering.
• Shane Masuda (’13) of Hebron will be starting coursework at the University of California Santa Barbara.
• Dixa Patel (’13) of Owensboro will be working as a counselor for the WKU Center for Gifted Studies’ Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) and the Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth (VAMPY). Additionally, she will be shadowing neurosurgeon Dr. David Eggers in Owensboro.
• Hannah Pennington (’13) of Union is interning with Dr. Darla Cahill at Pediatric Partners of Northern Kentucky. Additionally, she is continuing research work with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics.
• Madison Preece (’13) of Owensboro is working as an Emergency Room Technician at the Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
• William Roach-Barrette (’13) of Wellington is conducting systems research at Morehead State University’s Space Science Center.
• Samuel Saarinen (’13) of Shelbyville is continuing research with Dr. Claus Ernst of the WKU Department of Mathematics. Additionally, Saarinen is traveling with the Boy Scouts of America’s High Adventure trips.
• Wayne Schmitt (’13) of Jeffersonville recently presented a research poster titled Stable Isotopic Signatures of Corbicula Flumnea In Riverine Reaches With Differing Cladophora Levels: A Comparative Transplant Study at the Society for Freshwater Science’s 61st Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, FL.
• Thomas Seibold (’13) of Crestwood is completing coursework through WKU.

• Nathaniel Serpico (’13) of Elizabethtown will be volunteering at the Warm Blessings, Inc. in his hometown.
• Ethan Smith (’13) of Lexington is interning at Awesome, Inc., a tech company in his hometown.
• Melissa Smith (’13) of Guthrie is teaching English in Mongolia through the English Language Institute/China.
• Mary Spraggs (’13) of Danville is continuing research with Dr. Steven Gibson in the WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy.
• Aaron Tagliaboschi (’13) of Bowling Green will continue his research with Dr. Jeremy Maddox in the WKU Department of Chemistry.
• Duncan Wood (’13) of Maysville will intern at Carlson Software in his hometown.
• Tori Buckley (’14) of Glasgow will be volunteering at the Medical Center in Bowling Green.
• Carolyn Clark (’14) of Lexington will be researching at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy with Dr. David J. Feola.
• John Andrew Cliburn (’14) of Cloverport will be volunteering with the WKU Center for Gifted Studies’ Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students (SCATS) and will complete coursework through WKU.
• Joseph Crafton (’14) of Spottsville will be observing various doctors, surgeons, technicians, nurses, and practitioners at Methodist Hospital in Henderson.
• Collie Crawford (’14) of Elizabethtown is working at Air Hydro Power in Elizabethtown.
• Ethan Gill (’14) of Bowling Green will be attending the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA. Additionally, he will complete an Eagle Scout service project in landscaping on the WKU campus.
• Hannah Graff (’14) of Alexandria will be teaching dance at Manyet Dance in Highland Heights. She will complete coursework through WKU.
• Harry Heyworth (’14) of Prospect will be volunteering at Walden Theatre in Louisville.
• Marcus Hughes (’14) of Marion is interning at the United States Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, AZ through a Department of Navy Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program position.
• Aline Irihamye (’14) of Lexington is participating in the six-week Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science program.
• Alex Kearns (’14) of Sanders will work as a counselor at a 4-H Camp in Carlisle.
• Naomi Kellogg (’14) of Elizabethtown will be attending the Youth Governors Conference in Washington, DC, the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs in Black Mountain, NC, and the Leadership Training Conference in Columbia, KY.
• Shania Polson (’14) of Bowling Green is job shadowing at All Creatures Animal Hospital.
• Lindsey Shain (’14) of Cox’s Creek is working as a counselor at a 4-H Camp at Lake Cumberland.
• Domnique Thayer (’14) of Foster will be shadowing pediatrician Dr. Michael Coleman in Maysville. Additionally, she will be volunteering at the Robertson County Animal Shelter in Mt. Olivet.
• Mariah Tiller (’14) of Hazard is volunteering at the Hazard/Perry County Senior Center.
• Matthew Turner (’14) of Lewisport is completing coursework through WKU and the Owensboro Community and Technical College.
• Gretchen Walch (’14) of Alexandria will present research work from the WKU Genome Discovery and Exploration Program at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science Education Alliance PHAGES Symposium at the HHMI Janelia Farm campus in Ashburn, Virginia.

By Gatton Academy

5Q Alumni: Nilesh Sahi

February 28, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike]
Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
I was fortunate to be a part of the first class at the Academy. It was truly a unique experience that helped me academically and professionally. The Academy helped me to transition from high school to college with the support of the residential counselors, faculty, and staff. I was able to participate in a plethora of extracurricular activities such as research, clubs, and intramural sports that helped me grow both academically and socially.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
The Academy helped me to build strong relationships and friendships. No matter how far away we are from each other or where we are in our academic and professional lives, we still take time out of our schedules to get together and have fun. On a more academic level, my experiences at the Academy helped me to enhance my time management skills. I was able to efficiently determine when I needed to study and when I could have fun.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
I graduated from Western Kentucky University with a double major in Biology and Chemistry. I have just completed my first semester of graduate school in Biotechnology at Columbia University in the City of New York.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I have realized after coming to Columbia University that there are so many paths and intriguing opportunities out there. From groundbreaking research to healthcare, and even biotechnology start-ups, I know I will be doing something exciting after I earned my degree. For me, as long as I work to make society a better place, I will have achieved something.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
I think my favorite memories at the Academy were when I used to go to DUC for dinner with my friends. Those were the times when we would get together and reflect on the classes for the day.

We would like to thank Nilesh for taking time out of his schedule to be interviewed.

By Gatton Academy

J-Term Allows Students to Pursue Unique Learning Opportunities

February 25, 2013 | News | No Comments

[fblike] Gretchen Walch

Four months ago, I began reaching out to humanitarian organizations, looking for an opportunity to job shadow someone “making a difference in the world”. I was humbled and amazed when in response to my outreach; The Peace Corps invited me to spend two weeks, during the month of January, at the Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. From the outside looking in, I observed the inner workings of the Peace Corps to gain an understanding of how it functions as a whole. Through intriguing conversations with employees from all over the Headquarters, I was able to not only understand the Peace Corps’ work, but also, its unique community.

Upon meeting my first contact, I immediately appreciated the open, multicultural, and yet close knit environment of the Peace Corps. The community is rooted in a shared passion for service. Through conversation, it became evident the headquarters also connects to the government community. The Peace Corps is an accredited organization because it is a government organization. It has access to USAID, The State Department, and other partners in the government; all of which consistently work together to initiate change. This idea of collaboration extends to the non-profit and NGO partners, which are affiliated with the Peace Corps. These strategic partnerships open many resources, like the embassies, for volunteers. At the headquarters, Peace Corps employees can attend meetings with partners and add input on global issues. The Peace Corps’ community is what sets it apart from other organizations.

The acquaintances and friends I made at the Peace Corps were invaluable. I can extract many conclusions about humanitarian work and my future from these relationships. First of all, to understand Peace Corps Volunteers is to appreciate the diverse reasons for which everyone serves, and the humble, passionate, and focused person they become. Every returned volunteer I met said they left with a new perspective of themselves and their effect on others.

I asked many people for their perspective on the needs of communities around the world. I found that when driven by passion, each person finds their niche in service. I also discovered personally listening to each person’s focus; everything from gender development to sustainability to education, I gained knowledge about many areas of need. It is exciting to see there are many ways to link areas of development together. For example, being a teacher who empowers women, by teaching them how to maintain a cook stove, addressing at a minimum three areas: gender development, sustainability and education. I now understand each area of service and the importance of ensuring a balance of all areas within a community.

Looking forward, the perspective I gained could benefit any visitor. Personally, I gained knowledge that in order to be most helpful to others, following my passion throughout my education and acting as a citizen and advocate for diversity, will prepare me for this career. Everyone chooses a career path, understanding the path of others’ is what makes you effective in your goals and in that of a greater purpose. Gaining, not only an understanding, but an appreciation of the roles of each person in your workplace, helps you to become more efficient at your own work and increases your ability to contribute to the goals of the entire organization or company.

I have honestly been forever changed by my stay in Washington D.C. and by my time spent at the Peace Corps Headquarters. I am thankful for each acquaintance I made and hope I cross paths with the Peace Corps again, in the near future.

By Gatton Academy

11 Academy Students Present Their Research at State Capitol

February 22, 2013 | News | No Comments

[fblike]Eleven Gatton Academy students presented their research at the Posters at the Capitol state research conference. The conference occurred at the Kentucky State Capitol building in Frankfort, KY.

The Academy students’ presentations represented a variety of STEM disciplines ranging from chemistry to biology to mechanical engineering. Chad Phillips, assistant director of admissions and external relations, said the conference gave Academy students the opportunity to share their research findings and learn about other academic disciplines.

“Poster at the Capitol was quite a unique conference. While some research conferences focus solely on one area of research such as chemistry, this conference allowed Academy students to see how research is conducted in multiple fields helping them to understand the interdisciplinary nature of research.”

Since the conference occurred at the state capitol, students were able to share their research findings with their state representatives and state senators. Furthermore, many Academy students took this opportunity to share stories from their Academy experience with their state officials.

The following is a list of the Academy students who participated in the event:

William Storrs, Covington, and William Johnson, Elkton, presented their research on Developing a Four-Rotored Radio Control Helicopter for Photography and Photogrammetry Applications with faculty mentor Joel Lenoir.
David Brown, Central City, presented Creation of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-Functionalized Silsesquioxane Nanorods for Organic-Based Solar Cells with faculty mentor Hemali Rathnayake.
Ryan Gott, Bowling Green, presented Understanding the Haptic Response of Wood Finishes with faculty mentor Chris Byrne.
Lara van der Heiden, Carlisle, presented Mercury Analysis in Rafinesque Big Eared Bat Populations with faculty mentor Cathleen J. Webb.
Nitin Krishna, Corbin and Hannah Pennington, Union, presented Formulating Mathematical Models to Analyze the Treatment of Chronic Wounds with faculty mentor Richard Schugart.
Matthew Gonzalez, Brodhead, presented Antimicrobial and Antiangiogenic Drugs – Relevance in Biomedical Research with faculty mentor Rajalingam Dakshinamurthy.
Wayne Schmitt, Jeffersonville, presented Microbial Fuel Cells: Generating Electricity From Mud with faculty mentors Yan Cao, Wei-Ping Pan and Hou-Yin Zhao.
Melissa Smith, Guthrie, and Meghan Hall, Hustonville, will present Does Ecology Promote Sexual Dimorphism in the Pecos Pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis)? with faculty mentor Michael Collyer.

By Gatton Academy

Interview Day 101

February 20, 2013 | Academics, News | No Comments

[fblike]Hannah Pennington

March 2nd is quickly approaching and for those lucky enough to have received an invitation to the Gatton Academy Interview day, some anxiety about the day may be slowly creeping in. So you may be thinking what I can do to prepare for the interview. During the last week, I talked to the “experts” (current students) to see if they had any advice for the Class of 2015 and they said:

1)Practice a little: Ask a parent, teacher or counselor to give you a “mock-interview.” Many students struggle more with the thought of having an interview rather than the interview itself. It’s okay to be nervous – the interviewer’s know that it is often your first “real” interview – but don’t let your anxiety get in the way of your personality.

2)The Interviewers are there to HELP you: Though these are the people that could have a major impact on your future, they are not searching for your flaws. As insane as it sounds, they are there to find what is unique and wonderful about you. Don’t be afraid of them – in fact, feel free to talk their heads off.

3)Talk to the Academy students: While at the Interview Day, there will be many of the current Academy students and staff to talk to you. They are there to keep you company while you are waiting. They all love to talk, especially about their time at Gatton. You can even ask them about their own personal experience with the interview. If you have any lingering questions about attending the Gatton Academy, they can provide real answers.

4)Talk to the Other Interviewees: All of the people that you will be surrounded with are going through the same anxiousness and excitement as you! Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. Many friendships are formed at interview day.

5)Don’t focus on your Academic History: When you applied, you gave the staff all of your academic qualifications. They read about your GPA and coursework, so they know that you have the intellect that the Academy course work requires. They now want to know about the person behind the ACT score and GPA, not how you studied (or didn’t study) to get those great grades.

6)Be Yourself: This is, without a doubt, the most important tip on this list. You were offered an interview because the admissions committee knows you have the mind of a Gatton Academy student. Now show them how much more you can be. At the Academy, there is not a person who can solely be represented by their grades or standardized test scores – each and every student has a passion that helps define them as more than just a “nerd”. Give the interviewers a chance to see the real you.

When March 2nd comes, keep in mind that the interviewers are excited to meet all of the prospective students. Everyone at the Gatton Academy wishes you the best of luck and hopes to see you next year in Schneider Hall!

By Gatton Academy

Gatton Academy Wins DOE Regional Science Bowl

February 11, 2013 | News | No Comments

[fblike]The Gatton Academy is the U.S. Department of Energy’s West Kentucky Regional High School Science Bowl winner and will compete in the National Science Bowl April 25-29 in Washington, D.C.

The senior Gatton Academy team won the Feb 9 regional competition at the University of Kentucky Extension Campus at West Kentucky and Technical College, while the junior team made a strong showing winning two matches. Last year, the Gatton Academy teams placed second and third.

Members of the senior team included Jeet Parekh, Samuel Saarinen, Samuel Dong, Jon Biechele-Speziale, and Sibi Rajendran. Members of the junior team included Joseph Crafton, Patrick Osterhaus, Grace Babbs, Ajit Deshpande, and Aline Irihamye. Chad Phillips and Samuel Earls served as the team coaches.

Science Bowl is the A fast-paced, question-and-answer format similar to the Jeopardy TV game show tests teams of students in all areas of science and mathematics. It is the only educational event and academic competition that is sponsored by a federal agency.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Rebecca Morgan

February 10, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News | No Comments

[fblike]Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
My experiences at the Gatton Academy included running a half-marathon and completing a sprint triathlon with the Gatton team, physics “study parties”, and growing as a community with my peers.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
Being in a community of individuals seeking to do well in school helped me to grow academically and to develop stronger study skills. I also learned the importance of having a community of friends to grow with academically and personally.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
I am now a senior at Western Kentucky University graduating in May 2013 with degrees in Biochemistry and Religious Studies. Over the past 2 years, I have been very active in the Brothers Big Sisters mentoring my 12-year old sister, Dora. Also, I have been blessed with the ability to serve on two mission trip team: one to serve at orphanages in Honduras (winter 2010/2011) and the other to serve in a medical clinic in Kenya (summer 2012). Currently, I am Discipleship Cluster Leader at the Baptist Campus Ministry at WKU and work at the Gatton Academy as a desk clerk.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I aspire to go to Berlin for a 2-year mission trip working with an organization that seeks to end sex-trafficking. After that, I plan to return to Kentucky to work on both a Masters in Theology and a degree in Osteopathic Medicine becoming a pediatrician. Ultimately, I hope to become a medical missionary to serve wherever God leads me to go and to serve whoever He needs me to serve.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
My favorite memory is from the January (I think) of my senior year. A group of my friends and I went to Hospital Hill to go sledding. During our snow shenanigans, my friend Katie Brown sprained her ankle. Since the roads were so bad and we promised the Residential Counselors before we left that we wouldn’t ask for a ride back to the Academy , we had to switch off giving Katie picky-back rides all the way back in the snow. Thankfully we made it back in time for curfew!

We would like to thank Rebecca for taking time out of her schedule to be interviewed. Next week, we will spotlight Mr. Nilesh Sahi who is currently in graduate school at Columbia University in New York.

By Gatton Academy

Alumni 5Q: Emily Peeler

February 1, 2013 | 5Q, Alumni, News, People | No Comments

[fblike]Can you describe your experience at the Gatton Academy?
My experience at the Gatton Academy was wonderful. It gave me a chance to grow socially and academically. I was presented with opportunities that wouldn’t have otherwise been available to me such as research, weekend excursions, and unique friendships. I am still recounting my Academy experiences with people today, everything from my physics days to adventures in the dorm.

How have your experiences at the Gatton Academy helped you in your adult life?
At the Academy I began to develop my networking skills, something very essential in the “professional” world. Also, it was the first place I really needed to manage my time, a skill that has improved with time but the fundamentals of it started during my time at the Academy. And of course, many of my dearest friends today were my Academy classmates.

Since the Academy, what have you been up to?
Since graduating from the Gatton Academy in 2008 I graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW), have earned my Master’s of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University, and am currently in my 2nd year at the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Last summer, I worked for a non-profit in Boston.

What do you aspire to achieve in the next ten years?
I will graduate from law school in May 2014 and then I hope to be living on the east coast and work for a non-profit. I hope to be working on policy issues in either juvenile criminal law or general legal issues facing children.

What was your favorite memory from your time at the Gatton Academy?
J-term was a great month of time full of memories and learning. I was in a physics research class and they brought computers into the computer lab for about 4 of us. Being done at noon everyday and in such a small class, there was a lot of time to get to know my classmates in and out of class through walks, meals, and trips.

We would like to thank Emily for taking time out of her schedule to be interviewed. Next week, we will spotlight Ms. Rebecca Morgan who is currently a senior at Western Kentucky University.

By Gatton Academy

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